How to talk to your child about suicide — and help their friends

In this article, you’ll find answers to questions like:

1. Where can I turn for advice?
2. How can my child help a friend?
3. Who is most vulnerable?

It can be hard for parents to know what to do if their child seems depressed. But experts say it’s better to intervene before there’s a crisis.

Suicidal thoughts, violence and depression are increasing among American teenagers. Three in five teen girls said they felt persistent sadness in 2021, double the rate in boys. One in three girls seriously considered suicide, according to a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Parents can help prevent suicide by talking about it, attending support services, limiting access to social media, guns, alcohol and drugs — and following up with your loved ones, according to the CDC.

Need urgent help? In Palm Beach County, call 2-1-1 or the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

1. WHERE CAN I TURN FOR ADVICE?

Tell your child upfront that you understand it’s not easy talking about mental and emotional health, says Patrice Schroeder, Community Relations specialist at 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast.

“Parents could say, ‘I know sometimes you don’t feel like sharing with me’ or ‘I do want you to feel comfortable about reaching out for help, even if you choose to talk to someone else,” she says.

Visit 211palmbeach.org or suicidepreventionlifeline.org for more talking tips and information on suicide.

2. HOW CAN MY CHILD HELP A FRIEND?

Encourage children to reach out to their school’s guidance counselor or any staff member they might trust, says Ljubica Ciric, vice president of Child and Family Mental Health at Community Partners of South Florida.

In fact, local agencies, including Community Partners, are providing co-located therapists at public schools under a special program in the aftermath of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Students also can text their ZIP code to TXT211 (898211) or go to 211palmbeach.org to chat online from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Schroeder uses the military model of ACE -- Ask, Care, Escort -- with children. If you think a friend is suicidal, ask. Don’t keep it a secret, even if your friend says not to tell anyone. Go with your friend to talk to a favorite teacher, coach, counselor or anyone they trust.

See or hear something concerning? Say something!

You can report suspicious activity anonymously to law enforcement and school officials via the Palm Beach County StudentProtect app or state FortifyFL app.

3. WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE?

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24.

Suicide among young Black people is a growing problem. Suicides among Black people between the ages of 10 and 24 increased by more than a third between 2018 and 2021, according to a recent study by the CDC.

Bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual issues, online targeting, loneliness, eating disorders, death of a parent or a friend – all can bring teenagers to the brink. In addition, children who have experienced trauma or have been abused are at a high risk for suicide, Ciric says.

“Other groups to watch include teens of divorced parents and those who have experienced recent loss,” she says. “Other warning signs are teens struggling with self-harming behavior or who have frequent visible injuries, teens who are withdrawn and timid, teens who have a lack of friends, and those who demonstrate hypersexualized behavior.”

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.

 SOURCES:

• Patrice Schroeder, Community Relations specialist, 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast
• Ljubica Ciric, vice president of Child and Family Mental Health, Community Partners of South Florida
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Vital Statistics System report
• “Trends of Suicidal Behaviors Among High School Students in the United States: 1991–2017,” November 2019, Pediatrics journal
• Florida Department of Education, Palm Beach Mental Health Allocation Plan
• National Alliance of Mental Illness
  
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline